The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-27
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
The Lieutenant-Gover

The Lieutenant Governorship.
20 the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal.
have not long resided in Indiana, but in that
little time have noted the commotion, wide
spread throughout the State in relation to the
manner of providing for the occasion" resulting
from the resignation of the last duly-elected
Lieutenant-governor / have heard many good
arguments, both ''pro and CON- and was much
surprised to hear a member of the present
House assert that the State Constitution was
silent il such case.
This LED me to look up the Constitution, and
copy published in 1870 was found
Assuming it to be unamended, have tried to
read it carefully, and reach the following con-
clusion, towit General Robertson is not legal
ly entitled to fill the unexpired term of General
Manson, nor is Mr.. Smith legally entitled
to sit as President of tho Senate.
Article V, Of the State Constitution, relates to
the State officers arranging for their elections,
stating their terms. defining their powers and
providing for contingencies. Section of said
article plainly says. 1.-THE Lieutenant-governor
shall hold his Office four years." and Section as
plainly says, 'The official term OF the Lieuten-
ant-governor shall commence the second
Monday in January. 1853, and on the same day
every fourth year thereafter" 1t then follows
that General Mansons official term cannot ex-
pire until the second Monday in 1889, though he
did terminate his connection herewith by resig-
nation during the last recess of the General As
sembly. Section 10 declares that, 'In case of
the removal of the Governor from office. or of
his death. resignation, or inability to discharge
the duties of the Office, the same
shall devolve upon the LeuteEantgov
ernor; and the General Assembly shall,
by law, provide for the case of the removal
from Office, death. resignation or disability, both
of the Governor and Lieutenant governor, de-
claring what officer shall then act as Governor,
and such officer shall act accordingly, until the
disability be removed, or n Governor be elected.
Note that this section does not, in any event,
refer to the filling of the vacancy occasioned by
the DEATH removal resignation of the Lieu
tenant-governor; that it is imperative except
when both Offices are vacant, and that, under it,
the General Assembly takes no power, except in
case of removal from Office DEATH resignation
or inability to serve of both the Governor and
Lieutenant governor and, as If, by the trainers
OF the Constitution, it were deemed necessary
to more definitely cover just such vacancy as
that created by the resignation of the Lieuten-
ant-governor, and now, in the abb
sence of amendments, legally exists
Section Is of the same article declares
that "when, during the recess of the General
Assembly, vacancy shall happen in any office
the appointment to which is vested in the Gen.
eral Assembly. when, at any time, vacancy
shall have occurred in any other State Office
other than the Governor take this to meant
the Governor shall fill such vacancy by appoint
ment which shall expire when such successor
| shall be elected and qualified"
| There is no clause in all this Constitution
which gives the General Assembly even the
slightest shadow of the right to appoint q Lieu
tenant governor in any case, whether to fill
| vacancy or not, Section 10 only comforting on
| that body power to appoint a Governor, and
| that only when both Offices are, or shall be. for
cause. declared vacant In such case even, the
Governor appointed would not only through
| his right but from imposed daty, by Section is,
| be called upon to appoint ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
until a successor be elected and qualified
Now, the Constitution, having so clearly es-
| tablished the term of the Lieutenant governor,
| SO definitely fixed the date Of its commencement,
General Manson having been q State officer,
| other than the Governor, and he having re-
| signed during a recess of the General Assembly,
it was, under said Sec. Is not only the privilege
of the Governor, but his plainly defined duty, TO
appoint some to serve whose term should expire
| when successor was duly elected and qualified.
The Constitution makes General Mansions term
| begin the second Monday in January 1885, and
| expire the second Monday in 1885, He could, at
| any time, by.resignation, terminate his connec-
| ton with such Office, but in way could its
| term expire but by lapse of time, before which
| other than the appointee of the Governor, can
| legally wear it's honors or assume It's duties.
| Nor has the Governor yet become legally alb
| solved from his duty defined in Sec Is. The
| vacancy occurred during recess of the Legls-
| latu-e in which case the General Assembly has
no power in any case to Eli a vacancy, and the
| mere fact that the Governor delayed in this case
| is no reason why that body should assume to per-
form duty so plainly devolving upon him.
WILLIAM H. DoNAHoE.
| INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. "a, 1887.
The Fight Against the Suffrage Thieves.
| To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal:
| The magnificent fight you have made against
the taly-sheet forgers. plug-uglies buns and
/ thieves of the Democratic party, entities you to
distinguished consideration at the hands of all
your fellow-citizens who love law and order
| Through your efforts tho rape of the ballots has
~ A.
| people has been asserted; but the good work will
not be fully accomplished until the guilty
men are safely lodged in the penitentiary. These
disreputable fellows however, are only the in
struments in the hands of the skilled artists who
are running the Democratic machine. They are
fellows unknown of God and despsed of men,
| who are perfectly willing to 60 to Jail or to the
| penitentary to save friend, who is willing to
| pay them literally for their immolation. The
| way you have dealt with these ''scoundrels" has
met with the entire appreciation of the good peo-
Pile all over the State.
| The course of the Journal in the legislative
middle has been in perfect keeping with it's
fearless manly course of the past. and the indig-
nation it has felt and expressed at the course of
the Republicans in the Senate and House who
| compromised with treason and traitors who
were seeking to thwart and destroy State Con-
stitution and laws, is shared not only by Repub
licans but all good people here l notice that
| Mr.. Dresser, of Tippecanoe, in this mornings
| Journal, says the compromise was made in the
interest Of law and order. Is it in the interest
of law and order to stand idly by and see
bowling, drunken mob overriding law and tramp
ling constitutional rights In the dust2 Is it in
the interest of law and order to submit to ar
outrageous usurpaton of the second executive
office in the State by blatant bully
and order for the loyal Representatives
of the people to submit to political indignitiei
that are insults TO his manhood, and which
bring him into contempt and centumely among
his neghbers and friends2 Is it In the interest,"
| of law and order. in any event, to recognize law
lessness rebellion treason9 Our Republican
friends made an unfortunate and serious blum
der. They not only held the key of the situa
ton, but they were acting in the broad sunleh'
| If tuti al oh nd thov CHI hav